Updated

Sudan's state news agency says a military transport aircraft has crashed near the capital Khartoum after a mechanical failure, killing 13 people on board. It says nine people survived.

SUNA says the plane went down Sunday about 40 kilometers (25 miles) southwest of Omdurman, Khartoum's twin city.

Sudanese military spokesman Col. Sawarmy Khalid says the Antonov 12 was transporting military personnel and equipment to Darfur. He says the pilot reported the aircraft's two engines had failed.

Sudan has a poor aviation safety record, with a large number of accidents. A Sudanese helicopter carrying a government delegation crashed in August, killing all 32 people on board including a minister.

Sudan's government has been battling rebel groups in Darfur since 2003. More than 300,000 people have been killed in the conflict.